Danny Spooner Explained

Danny Spooner (16 December 1936 – 3 March 2017) was an Australian traditional folk singer and social historian. Born in England, he left school at the age of 13 and worked as a salvage tug and trawler skipper before moving to Australia in 1962. He rapidly became involved in the Melbourne folk revival centred on Frank Traynor's folk club, and was a major figure in the Australian folk scene thereafter.^[1]

He died on 3 March 2017.^[2]

Awards and honours

Danny Spooner was the Port Fairy Folk Festival artist of the year in 1995.^[3]

Discography

LPs

1965: A Wench and a Whale and a Pint of Good Ale, Discurio
1966: Soldiers and Sailors, Discurio
1977: Canterbury Fair, Anthology AR 001
1978: Danny Spooner and Friends, Anthology AR 002
1978: Limbo, Anthology AR 003
1978: Revived and Relieved (with Gordon McIntyre), Larrikin LRF 016
1986: I Got This One From..., Sandstock Music SSM 017
1987: When a Man's in Love, Sandstock Music, SSM 021
1988: We'll Either Bend or Break 'Er, Sandstock Music SSM 027
1989: All Around Down Under, Sandstock Music SSM 036 (with Martyn Wyndham-Read)

CDs

2002: When a Man's in Love (love songs from a man’s point of view)
2002: We'll Either Bend or Break 'Er (shanties)
2002: Launch Out on the Deep (sea songs)
2016 Home (His last CD).

Folk Trax

2004: ‘ard Tack, (traditional Australian songs of work)
2006: The Great Leviathan, traditional songs of whaling
2007: Years of Spooner, (compilation of songs Danny has sung 1965-2007)
2007: Emerging Tradition, (fairly) contemporary Australian songs
2008: Brave Bold Boys

Notes and References

Web site: Sea Shanties with Danny Spooner - The Live Set - ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) . Abc.net.au . 14 October 2011. 2020-05-19.
http://tributes.theage.com.au/obituaries/theage-au/obituary.aspx?n=daniel-spooner-danny&pid=184358142 Danny Spooner, Obituary
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/liveset/port-fairy-folk-festival/7232596 The Port Fairy Folk Festival turns 40